How a harmful bacterium senses iron—and why it matters for fighting infections

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Researchers have described how a two-protein system helps Pseudomonas aeruginosa detect iron inside and outside its cells and adjust its metabolism. The work may inform efforts against a bacterium associated with hospital-acquired infections and increasing antibiotic resistance.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common culprit in hospital-acquired bacterial infections and is growing more resistant to antibiotics. New findings from Aaron Smith, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UMBC, and collaborators at Oklahoma State University show how a two-protein system inside the bacterium operates like a sensitive switch: The pair detects iron both outside and inside the cell and then rewrites large parts of the microbe's metabolism in response.